Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-07-06
THE CONSTITUTION FEINT.


The so-called Constitutional Conven-
ton has formulated an instrument which
it proposes to submit to the people at
the August election. The Mormon peo-
pie will support it unanimously in accord
ance with the instructions from the head
Of the Church, and of course it will go
before Congress with such numerical
endorsement as, coming from any
other Territory, would entitle it to
respectful consideration by the Senate
and House, Not SO, however, in
this instance. The ahsurdity Of
a constitution, framed and submitted by
body OF men, every one OF whom is in
known sympathy with the evils they
pretend to be anxious to abolish, is too
glaring to escape the notice of the most
obtuse member of either branch oil our
National Legislature. Men who are
known to be acting under the direction
of the head of the Mormon Church, are
hardly the material to commend itself to
an intelligent Congress as advocates of
constitutional prohibition of the
statutory crimes, which, under
the same dictation, they have ever en-
coursged, aud still continue to encourage
and condone. AS TIE DEMOCRAT has
before asserted, there is not the remotest
possibility or danger Of the admission OF
Utah as State at the next or any sue
ceeding session of Congress, until the
Mormon question is finally settled, by
either the forced or voluntary submission
of the majority to the Congressional laws.
We are, moreover, confident that the
alleged Statehood boom is but feint OF
the leaders of the Mormon Church,
for the purpose Of deluding the loyal ele-
ment into a defensive attitude, thereby
diverting its efforts from such aggressive
legislation as was so nearly accomplished
at the last session. The Mormons will
be we'll satisfied with being let alone.
They expect no favors from Congress,
and will be contentif nothing whatever is
done in that quarter. The Statehood
agitation is a shrewd strategemical
move, and nothing more. Its success
will depend. upon the credulity or percep-
ton of the loyal people of Utah. II the
latter are deluded into expending their
ammunition upon dummy and ignoring
the purpose 30 nearly accomplished last
winter, the Mormon end will be gained,
and the polygsmy and Church and
State questions remain as far
as ever from final settlement
Every act Of the Constitutional ConYen-
ton indicates most clearly that it was a
sham, and designed for another purpose
than the one for which it was ostensibly
called. Instead of adopting the usual
curse of asking Congress for an enabling
act to submit the constitution to the
p 'ople, it takes the entire business into
is own hands, and Assumes the
authority of placing it before the
yeettssFfss at the ensuing election.
1t goes before the Utah Commission,
a body having no more authority in the
premises than the Fourth of July Com
mittee or the Young Mems Democratic
Club, and asks of that body privilege
which can only be accorded by the Ma
tional Congress. 1.-THE movers had been
in earnest they would have gone to
work in the regular way, for they know
full well that the condition of af-
fairs in Utah will not bear the
slightest departure from the usual
course. In short, the entire pro-
ceedings manifest most plainly the in
sincerity of fine projectors of the scheme.
The Commission, in our opinion, was in
error in recognizing officially such a mis-
cradle farce. AS will be noticed by the
report upo1 our local page, the members
admitted that they had no authority in
the matter, aud it would have been wiser
if they had acted upon that principle by
declining to give it, even tacitly, their
official recognition.
1t is to he hoped that the Gentiles will
not be deceived by this shallow scheme to
divert them from following up the policy
of last winter. Let the Statehood matter
take care of itself. 1t is harmless, ex-
cept as a decoy, and if left alone will dis
appear in the contest such as should be
continued for such legislation as will
perhaps prepare the Territory in the
course OF time for honorable admission
as Q sovereign State.